Deliberations in the trial of four bank executives accused of conspiring to mislead investors as to the financial health of Anglo Irish Bank in 2008, were adjjourned this morning and will resume again on Monday because of difficulties with one juror.

The judge in the case, Judge Martin Nolan, finished his charge to the jury on Tuesday of last week.

The jury began hearing evidence in January in what is understood to be the longest criminal trial in the history of the State.

Not guilty

Peter Fitzpatrick (63) of Convent Lane, Portmarnock, Dublin; Denis Casey (56), from Raheny, Dublin; John Bowe (52) from Glasnevin, Dublin, and Willie McAteer (65) of Greenrath, Tipperary Town, Co Tipperary, have all pleaded not guilty to conspiring together and with others to mislead investors by setting up a €7.2 billion circular transaction scheme between March 1st and September 30th, 2008, to bolster Anglo's balance sheet.

Mr Fitzpatrick is a former director of finance at Irish Life & Permanent (ILP) and Mr Casey is ILP’s former chief executive. Mr Bowe is a former head of capital markets at Anglo, while Mr McAteer is Anglo’s former finance director.